Published 7:00 am, Sunday, March 20, 2011

One of the favorite snack foods of Plainviewans for generations is making a comeback.

Spudnuts Coffee and Bistro, 1115 N. I-27, has set a target date of April 15 to open for business.

The new business, which will occupy space in the Stonegate Shopping Center formerly filled by Sav-On office supply, is not affiliated with Plainview's original Spudnut Shop.

"We talked to Carroll (Johnston, the owner of the original Spudnut Shop), but that didn't work out," said owner Ronny Bradley. "Spudnut is not a brand name, it simply refers to the flour used in making the pastry, so there is no issue in using the name."

"We chose the name we did because it tells you everything we do," he added

Bradley quickly pointed out that his business will be about more than simply early morning confections.

"We will offer pastries in the morning, but we also will offer several healthier options as well," he said. "There will be a wide range of soups, salads and sandwiches, offering more of the bistro feel."

"We also will have lots of speciality drinks," he added. "Basically, we can make anything a Starbucks can make."

Bradley and his wife, Cheré, who has been in food service management for several years, want the new establishment to have a coffeehouse feel.

"In this tough economy the businesses that survive are the ones that evolve and are willing to change and do different things," Bradley said. "This is the next step in the evolution and is an alternative to what exists in Plainview."

One of the features that should set the new business apart from others in Plainview will be "child-free" areas.

On the south side of the 3,900-plus square-foot facility - just inside the main entrance - will be two rooms which only will be accessible from the main seating area.

"No one under age 16 will be allowed in this area," said Mrs. Bradley. "We will have home-style decor and furniture like couches and end tables in here for a more relaxing atmosphere. This will be a place where adults can have conversations without the normal distractions."

A separate room will feature an eight-foot conference-style table and "couples tables" along the window.

"We will be able to rent this out as a conference room/meeting room," Bradley said. "When it's not being rented out, college students can use this as a study place. We have free wireless Internet and there will be room for them to spread out with their books and laptops."

Bradley has been working on the concept for quite a while.

"It will be just about 17 months from the day I figured out the concept until the day we open."

Several factors played into the Bradleys choosing the former Sav-On space for the new venture.

"We like that it is near Walmart and the movie theater," Cheré said. "This is a high traffic area just off the interstate."

"There may not be a lot of parking on the west side of the parking lot, but there is easy access to the drive-through window, which is very important to us," Ronny added.